Stay

Full Circle

WARNING: FINAL CHAPTER

Chapter 16: Full Circle

I rub the silky lace between my fingers. My hand is now shaking and I can barely keep my grip on it. I don't know whose this is or how long it's been here, but this red, lacy thong, is definitely not mine.

My thoughts start flying in a million different directions and I begin to feel dizzy. I lose my balance and fall onto the pavement of my driveway, scraping my knee. I don't notice the pain or blood coming from my knee while I look at the piece of clothing in my hand.

My breathing becomes faster and harder as I attempt to keep myself calm. I just need to talk to John about this. There's obviously some mistake. He couldn't have... He wouldn't have...

I take a deep breath, stand up, wipe some of the blood off my leg, and head back to the house in a daze. Still holding onto the underwear by my fingertips.

At the sound of the front door closing, John calls down to me from the bedroom.

John: "Finally! What took you so long, babe? Everything is ready."

I slowly walk upstairs like a creature from the Walking Dead. As I step into my bedroom, I see John standing in front of the shower with only a towel on.

"John, turn the shower off."

John: "What? Why?"

"Turn the damn shower off. And put your clothes back on."

He does as he is told and puts his clothes on, not noticing what I am holding behind my back. He looks at me, confused and worried. I pull out the thong from behind my back and watch all the color disappear from his face.

"What the hell is this?"

John: "Where did you find that?"

"It doesn't matter where the hell I found it! Whose is it? Tell me why you have it!"

He freezes. Unsure of what to say.

He has no explanation.

Tears begin to fill my eyes as I look at the guilt and shame across John's face.

"God dammit, John!"

I throw the red piece of clothing on the floor and sit on my bed, burying my face into my hands.

John: "Katy, I am so sorry! I never wanted you to find out. It was a stupid mistake! I was upset about our fight, drank too much and then she... I didn't meant to, Kate! It was a drunken mistake!"

He walks over to me and kneels down next to me, pleading with me. I look up to see tears falling from his eyes. I bite my lip as tears begin to fall from my face as well.

John: "I am so incredibly sorry!"

"I don't know what to say, John. This is breaking my heart. You're breaking my heart."

My tears turn into a quiet sobbing as I look into John's face. The face of a man I trusted. The face of a man I love.

I manage to calm my crying for a moment to stand up and head towards the door.

John: "Katy, please! Please don't leave! I love you! I'll do anything!"

"I just need to take a little bit of time to think. But don't worry, I'm not going to go out and cheat on you."

And with that final statement, I slam the door. Leaving John alone in my bedroom with his thoughts and his guilt.

I grab my keys and run out to my car. I start the engine and look at my phone. The picture of John and I as my wallpaper is staring back at me. Mocking me. I throw my phone into my backseat and drive off.